Matunga’s Z-bridge, Parel station unsafe for women

The infamous Z-bridge that connects east and west Matunga station and used by lakhs of commuters every day has been rated the most unsafe, according to safety walks conducted at five railway stations by Akshara, a non-government organisation, reports Snehal Rebello.

The infamous Z-bridge that connects east and west Matunga station and used by lakhs of commuters every day has been rated the most unsafe, according to safety walks conducted at five railway stations by Akshara, a non-government organisation.

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Apart from the bridge, even Parel station was labelled as unsafe for women.

Between September 3 and September 10, 69 students from KC College in Churchgate undertook safety walks at Sion, Parel, Elphinstone Road, Reay Road and Matunga Road and Z-bridge during the day and night.

Students in the safety walk found the Z-bridge lonely, isolated and unsafe not just for women but also for men. Groups of drunken men and drug addicts loitering on the bridge without any police presence rendered the bridge unsafe.

“My group and I felt very uncomfortable in that area. All seven of us felt threatened. The area is really isolated. In our personal opinion, though it is a shortcut, Z-bridge is useless since it is unsafe,” reported a student group.

Apart from Z-bridge, even Reay Road station was reported to be in an isolated area and located near a large slum.